***Official City v Wigan FA Cup Thread***

[ayrshireblue]

He took off Yaya because he was going to be sent off and was playing shit. Like he often does. He really is a highlights player. Too often his ambling pointless game gets forgotten about because he pulls out a goal from nowhere. This is why Barca got rid. On his game he's unplayable but too often he's only playing twenty minutes a game.

[Blue Since 92]

I think it was a desperate gamble as our chances of overturning the result against Barca (barring a miracle) are very slim. I think the Count blundered big time today. And is till don't understand his taking Yaya off. What was that about ??

Yaya had been booked then made a silly challenge afterwards, match that up with the fact we had that rag cunt as ref and we'd have been down to 10 men before the end if he'd stayed on.

[patrickblue]

We lost due to a number of thingss.

We put out our worst back four. Predictably they were all terrible. Richards the worst of the lot. His non tackle for Wigans second is breathtaking. Compounded by Cliche and Pants.

Djeko managed to spurn 3 great openings.

Our lack of pace was disturbing today but I knew we would struggle when I saw the team.

We can get away with playing the odd Djeko, Lescott, Garcia, Richards, Cliche, Pantillimon..... But all at the same time in the same team? That spells defeat. and of course we didn't get away with it.

My biggest fear is that it will destroy the rest of the season.

True enough, but we were at home to a Championship side. If we played the first team and won, everyone would have moaned about them being knackered for Barca. Second tier at home has got to be a weakened side, away to Barca, a full strength one. A gamble that backfired.

I think it was a desperate gamble as our chances of overturning the result against Barca (barring a miracle) are very slim. I think the Count blundered big time today. And is till don't understand his taking Yaya off. What was that about ??

Possibly so (although I don't think they're that slim). Pellers picked a side that were well capable of seeing Wigan off at home in order to have a full strength team at their best for Barca. Seems like good management of resources to me.

[Peter Doherty (AGAIG)]

The team we put out should have won. It's the players that need their arses kicked. At least we can now concentrate on winning the league.

[The Original Special One]

We lost due to a number of thingss.

We put out our worst back four. Predictably they were all terrible. Richards the worst of the lot. His non tackle for Wigans second is breathtaking. Compounded by Cliche and Pants.

Djeko managed to spurn 3 great openings.

Our lack of pace was disturbing today but I knew we would struggle when I saw the team.

We can get away with playing the odd Djeko, Lescott, Garcia, Richards, Cliche, Pantillimon..... But all at the same time in the same team? That spells defeat. and of course we didn't get away with it.

My biggest fear is that it will destroy the rest of the season.

True enough, but we were at home to a Championship side. If we played the first team and won, everyone would have moaned about them being knackered for Barca. Second tier at home has got to be a weakened side, away to Barca, a full strengh one. A gamble that backfired.

I think it was a desperate gamble as our chances of overturning the result against Barca (barring a miracle) are very slim. I think the Count blundered big time today. And is till don't understand his taking Yaya off. What was that about ??

Ya Ya was losing the plot; he'd just being booked for a stupid petulant foul.

I don't blame the Count for his selection; if he'd started his preferred Barca starting lineup, they'd have been even more focussed on the Barca game. We were just unlucky with the timing of the two games.

[Dubaimancityfan]

That second goal really was a clusterfuck. Demichelis letting them wander by, Richards refusing to tackle, Clichy being beaten when he was closer to the ball and

Pantilimon doing nothing at all.

Wouldn't be sad to say goodbye to two or three of that back line today.

Completely agree. The whole back four are really not up to it. Without exception.

Kompany does well to hold our defence together and Zaballetta is quality. The others are dogshit. Thankfully Lescott already has his marching orders and hopefully Richards has played his last game. We are desperate for defensive reinforcements.

Actually Panti could've caught the first tiem it came in. All he had to do was shout to Lescott to let it through !!

[patrickblue]

At the moment, I think there's only one bridge too far as regards playing second string players, and that's resting Komps, because we've no-one vaguely approaching being able to do what he does. Upon saying that though, he can't play every game and home to a second tier side would seem the best time to rest him. Plus the forward line seem to have all gone off the boil at the same time, normally it wouldn't matter too much letting in a couple as we'd get four at the other end.

[Beefymcfc]

Back up players proved yet again that they can't be trusted. This squad is so thin on real talent. Basically, we have a squad stuffed with millions of pounds worth of shite.

I disagree there mate. We've seen enough quality from the back-up but if they're getting limited time on the field then they're never going to be up to speed.

What used to fuck me off about Mancini was that he didn't have a decent rotation policy, Pellers seems to be going down the same line.

[hartfordsheartbeat]

The buck stops with the manager. He picked a poor team to begin with and then panicked when it backfired. Now whether he was told to channel everything into the Barca game or not who knows? Our Squad depth is a complete myth. We have an excellent first 11 but after that we have about 3 other worthys. Pellegrini has been average for me and his persistent picking of demi is a sacking offence on it's own. These slow starts have become the norm rather than the exception and that is really worrying. We simply have to beat hull by any means possible next Saturday or this season could implode big time.

[guv111]

Back up players proved yet again that they can't be trusted. This squad is so thin on real talent. Basically, we have a squad stuffed with millions of pounds worth of shite.

I disagree there mate. We've seen enough quality from the back-up but if they're getting limited time on the field then they're never going to be up to speed.

What used to fuck me off about Mancini was that he didn't have a decent rotation policy, Pellers seems to be going down the same line.

In ones and twos they do okay, but any more than that and they seem to panic. The defenders, especially.

[nottsblue]

That's a long time. Especially seeing we seem to concede so many.

We are surprisingly one of i think four teams not to concede a penalty kick in the Prem this season

[Dubaimancityfan]

I think it was a desperate gamble as our chances of overturning the result against Barca (barring a miracle) are very slim. I think the Count blundered big time today. And is till don't understand his taking Yaya off. What was that about ??

Yaya had been booked then made a silly challenge afterwards, match that up with the fact we had that rag cunt as ref and we'd have been down to 10 men before the end if he'd stayed on.

I agree with you and the previous poster that he was a risk of being sent off but at that stage, I would've taken that risk. Yaya has seen us out of so many sticky situations in the past (last week was one of them) that you just have to make the gamble and keep him on. We'll never know now !

[walmai]

'Kin aitch, City, thought you'd left behind the banana skins!!

That's Arsenal's trophy drought over, then!

[Blue Since 76]

'Kin aitch, City, thought you'd left behind the banana skins!!

That's Arsenal's trophy drought over, then!

Nah, they'll lose to Hull in the final

[nottsblue]

Just a quick note to say well done Uwe. Perhaps got a bit lucky with the penalty as another defender wouldn't have given it away and the second was a catalogue of errors from all defenders. That aside we were poor and Uwe's tactics in no small part helped stifle us. Will be cheering him on in the semi. Good luck and hope to see him at the Etihad again soon

[getdressedmctavish]

I think when Edins header came back off the post and missed Dave by an inch we knew it was gonna be one of those days. I've said for some time now that Joleon and James have every reason to be pissed off with the Count and today ably demonstrated it. He's at risk of making a fool of himself with Demichellis now and if James has got any sense he'll be off in the summer.But Wigan played simple effective football under an excellent manager who has them organised and motivated, so fair play to them. just gotta take it on the chin. Hopefully our strikers will soon start remembering what a goal is, lol

[Moonchesteri]

I think when Edins header came back off the post and missed Dave by an inch we knew it was gonna be one of those days. I've said for some time now that Joleon and James have every reason to be pissed off with the Count and today ably demonstrated it. He's at risk of making a fool of himself with Demichellis now and if James has got any sense he'll be off in the summer.But Wigan played simple effective football under an excellent manager who has them organised and motivated, so fair play to them. just gotta take it on the chin. Hopefully our strikers will soon start remembering what a goal is, lol

If James has any sense he will honour his contract and stays professional. Not saying he can't go and knock on Pelle's door tho

[bigblue]

Some random notes on players:

A game for Clichy to forget and he looked way too hesitant to attack the defender or put in a cross when presented a chance.

Lescott was solid again. Proved that he should start again.

Garcia was doing very well in his role besides getting skinned in the 1st half and his brain fart pass later in the game.

Milner put in good effort but was forcing too many balls to the strikers that usually resulted in us losing possession.

Nasri played well but went back to his old habit once or twice of dwelling on the ball too long. Also seemed that Nasri, Silva, and Aguero were only passing to one another and ignoring teammates in better positions.

Dzeko did much better than Negredo by being in the right place to score goals, but was severely lacking when it came to finishing. One miss a game is ok. But missing the target on 2-3 great chances is not very good at all.

Serio did ok and had a few nice moves, but tried to run through 3-4 players too often when there were better options available.

Negredo needs his potion to go back to being Hyde instead of Jekyll.

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Can't win 'em all and roll on barca though. Should be a cracking match, especially with Fernandinho having a boost of confidence from his mid-week performance.

[Beefymcfc]

The buck stops with the manager. He picked a poor team to begin with and then panicked when it backfired. Now whether he was told to channel everything into the Barca game or not who knows? Our Squad depth is a complete myth. We have an excellent first 11 but after that we have about 3 other worthys. Pellegrini has been average for me and his persistent picking of demi is a sacking offence on it's own. These slow starts have become the norm rather than the exception and that is really worrying. We simply have to beat hull by any means possible next Saturday or this season could implode big time.

Do ya know, I hink you're right, Pellers has been average. When you look at the squad that we've got he's not getting the best of it.

I'd hate to think that he's geting orders from above and if it was the case it would say that we aren't allowing the manager to lead.

[Goaters 103]

Time for a rant.

Two years on the run weve beaten Chelsea and 2 years on the run weve pissed the FA Cup away to a no mark team. Dereliction of duty today by Pellegrini with that baffling team selection - we carried 2 players at the back in Richards and Demichelis - and an atrocious first 60 mins sees us off.

To not buy a quality centre halve in the summer was puzzling, to fail to buy one in Jan was borderline criminal and will be the reason why we dont win the FA Cup or Prem this season.

If Im James Milner Im off in the summer. I have no idea what the lad has to do to get a game. Meanwhile, Demichelis continues to be a liability in almost all the games he plays, yet still finds his name always selected. Im not sure how bad he has to be to get the hook. We cannot win the Prem Lge with Demichelis in the team.

Dogshit performance, utterly needless, totally wasteful and we got what we deserved, nowt.

Negredo's been invisible for 6 weeks, whilst Dzeko was Wigan's best defender for the last 15 mins. Typical City is alive and well, despite what the powers that be at our club would have you believe.

Dogshit.

On the plus side its saved me north of £250 in another trip to Wembley.